GUEST: 4 Ways That Social Media Can Improve Your Mental Health

This month it is Mental Health Awareness Month in Australia. I wanted to publish a post relating to mental health every day of the month so that I can personally raise awareness. You can find all posts, posted & upcoming on my schedule.

This post was not written by me. It was written by Zoe from No Light Without Darkness Blog and is about the positive effects of social media on our mental health.

You won’t have to search far to find an abundance of articles and videos detailing the toxicity of social media and the negative effects it has on our mental health, and while I agree with the points raised, it seems unfair to ignore all the good social media can do for us.

It helps you stay in touch

My anxiety can be so terrible that it leaves me housebound sometimes, but I know that even on my lowest days, I can still chat to my friends without all the stress of going out. It doesn’t compare to face to face contact, but when I’m not feeling well enough to face people, social media is all I’ve got.

It’s an easy way to meet new people

Almost everybody is on social media these days, and for those of us who have moved to a new area and don’t know anyone, or feel anxious in social situations, connecting with people online is a great way to find other like minded people and not feel so alone.

It helps spread awareness

In recent years social media has been used as the foundations for movements and protests as it’s such a fast and easy way of reaching millions of people. There are so many mental health advocates on Twitter sharing their stories and supporting each other, so if you need a safe space to express your thoughts, social media might not be such a bad place.

You can control what you see

Wouldn’t it be great if life came with a block button? As much as people talk about the negativity and trolls on social media, the beauty of it is that you can block or mute anything you don’t want to see. Only want your timeline to be a place of positivity? You can do that. It’s your account, so it can be whatever you want it to be.

Social media isn’t perfect, and it can do a lot of harm; but I think it’s important to appreciate the good it does too, and how it brings people together. As long as it’s used responsibly, it can greatly benefit those looking for a safe space to recover without feeling isolated.